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Updated: Jun 23, 2025
Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
Published on: June 13, 2014
Smart Nanoplatforms Responding to the Tumor Microenvironment for Precise Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy
Yujie Wang1, Tingting Deng1, Xi Liu2
1Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Nanozymes and Translational Cancer Research, Department of Otolaryngology, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and dynamic entity, comprising stromal cells, immune cells, blood vessels and extracellular matrix, which is intimately associated with the occurrence and development of cancers, as well as their therapy. Utilizing the shared characteristics of tumors, such as an acidic environment, enzymes and hypoxia, researchers have developed a promising cancer therapy strategy known as responsive release of nano-loaded drugs, specifically targeted at tumor tissues or cells. In this comprehensive review, we provide an in-depth overview of the current fundamentals and state-of-the-art intelligent strategies of TME-responsive nanoplatforms, which include acidic pH, high GSH levels, high-level adenosine triphosphate, overexpressed enzymes, hypoxia and reductive environment. Additionally, we showcase the latest advancements in TME-responsive nanoparticles. In conclusion, we thoroughly examine the immediate challenges and prospects of TME-responsive nanopharmaceuticals, with the expectation that the progress of these targeted nanoformulations will enable the exploitation, overcoming or modulation of the TME, ultimately leading to significantly more effective cancer therapy.
Insights
Responsive nanomedicine leverages tumor microenvironment (TME) characteristics like acidity and hypoxia for targeted drug delivery. This approach enhances cancer therapy by precisely releasing nano-loaded drugs within tumor tissues, improving treatment efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanotechnology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex system of cells and extracellular matrix crucial in cancer progression and therapy.
- Tumors exhibit unique characteristics such as acidity, hypoxia, and specific enzyme expression, offering therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of TME-responsive nanoplatforms for targeted cancer therapy.
- To explore intelligent strategies utilizing TME features for the controlled release of nano-loaded drugs.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on TME-responsive nanomedicine strategies.
- Analysis of nanoplatforms responding to acidic pH, hypoxia, GSH, ATP, enzymes, and reductive environments.
- Showcasing recent advancements in TME-responsive nanoparticles.
Main Results:
- TME-responsive nanoplatforms demonstrate significant potential for targeted drug delivery in cancer.
- Various TME stimuli (pH, hypoxia, enzymes, etc.) can be exploited for intelligent drug release mechanisms.
- Recent advancements show promise in developing sophisticated TME-responsive nanoparticles.
Conclusions:
- TME-responsive nanopharmaceuticals offer a promising avenue for overcoming or modulating the tumor microenvironment.
- Further development of these targeted nanoformulations is expected to lead to significantly more effective cancer therapies.
- Exploiting the TME is key to advancing targeted nano-based cancer treatment strategies.
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